Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
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The thesis focuses on the experiences of inclusion and participation of deaf and hard of hearing people in team sports, considering their own perspectives towards their reduced hearing, then...Show moreThe thesis focuses on the experiences of inclusion and participation of deaf and hard of hearing people in team sports, considering their own perspectives towards their reduced hearing, then translating this to their experiences on the sports field. Attributes that either support or obstruct inclusion are brought forward by sports policies and programs, the participants themselves, and literature research. While the research has given directly observable examples and tools of how inclusive practices in sports can be enabled, it has also shed light on indirect and structural issues that somehow impact sports experiences: general participation in the deaf or hearing world; the sense of belonging one has in each; the ability of sign language as an influencing and communicative tool; and the interaction or lack thereof with other deaf or hard of hearing people. Thus, a distinction is made between physical participation and social participation in team sports, where each pertains to a different side of what it means to achieve inclusion.Show less
Currently, there is a lot of evidence that physical activity has a positive effect on the amount of anxiety and depressive complaints. Many therapists, coaches, and others will advise someone with...Show moreCurrently, there is a lot of evidence that physical activity has a positive effect on the amount of anxiety and depressive complaints. Many therapists, coaches, and others will advise someone with these types of symptoms to exercise regularly. However, little research has been done into what type of sport should be practiced to achieve this positive effect. This cross-sectional research is therefore aimed at researching the question if practicing individual sports, team sports or both types of sports influences the extent of the complaints experienced. This involves controlling for the effect of gender and age. A non-random sample of respondents was examined using a self-report questionnaire based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. The data was analyzed with a multivariate analysis. No significant effect was found of the type of sport on the degree of anxiety and depressive complaints. According to these data, when one takes up sports to combat these complaints, one specific category of sport has no benefit over the others. Tegenwoordig is er veel bewijs dat fysieke activiteit een positief effect heeft op de hoeveelheid angst- en depressieve klachten. Veel therapeuten, coaches en anderen zullen iemand met dit soort symptomen adviseren om regelmatig te sporten. Echter is er weinig onderzoek gedaan naar welk type sport beoefend moet worden om dit positieve effect te bewerkstelligen. Dit cross-sectionele onderzoek is derhalve gericht op het beantwoorden van de vraag of het beoefenen van individuele sport, teamsport of beide typen sport invloed heeft op de mate van de ervaren symptomen. Hierbij is gecontroleerd voor het effect van gender en leeftijd. Een niet-random sample van respondenten is onderzocht met behulp van een zelfrapportage vragenlijst, gebaseerd op de Patient Health Questionnaire-9 en de Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. De data is geanalyseerd met een multivariate analyse. Er is geen significant effect gevonden van het type sport op de mate van angst- en depressieve klachten. Wanneer men sporten op zich neemt om deze symptomen tegen te gaan, heeft men volgens deze data geen baat bij een specifieke categorie van sport ten opzichte van de andere categorieën.Show less
Since independence, Kazakhstan has promoted different conceptions of national identity: an “ethnic” discourse that promotes the titular Kazakh nation, a “civic discourse” that revolves around inter...Show moreSince independence, Kazakhstan has promoted different conceptions of national identity: an “ethnic” discourse that promotes the titular Kazakh nation, a “civic discourse” that revolves around inter-ethnic harmony, and a “transnational” discourse that is focused on international prestige. For long, scholars have debated which of these discourses has been dominant, or whether these discourses have been promoted simultaneously. This thesis contributes to the growing body of work on Kazkakhstan’s nationhood process by looking at the competing nation-building narratives that are presented through two sport projects: the Astana Pro cycling team, and the promotion of Kazakh national wrestling. The analysis has made clear that the wrestling and the cycling projects are each used to promote different elements of Kazakhstan’s national identity; while the wrestling emphasizes the ethnic conception of Kazakh identity, the Astana Team is more focused on gaining international prestige. At the same, time, the narratives and symbolism used in the two projects are often ambiguous and sometimes even contradictory. Thus, this thesis has shown that competing nation-building narratives are promoted simultaneously and as such, it has highlighted the complex and hybrid nature of Kazakhstan’s nation-building process.Show less
